Latest Keith Appling News

America’s High Five was locked out of the Final Four, as both Michigan State and Michigan fell in the Elite 8. And while each team lost for very different reasons, it was peculiar that both games came down to the other team scoring three points after the defense forced a contested heave from 23 feet. In Michigan State’s case, those three points came at the foul line after Keith Appling committed the cardinal sin of fouling a three-point shooter. It was a nightmare game for Appling, who recorded a mere 2 points to go along with 4 turnovers and 5

Upset. Frustrated. Disappointed. Those are some tough words to describe a 22-year-old kid. That’s exactly what Keith Appling was when he committed to play basketball for Tom Izzo back in August 2008. A tough, gritty kid from inner-city Detroit, Appling came to Michigan State because he wanted to play in a Final Four – an experience that every four-year player under Tom Izzo had experienced until this season. Appling arrived in East Lansing with monumental expectations. A McDonald’s All-American, the guard gave MSU fans a taste of what was to come in the 2009 Michigan High School Basketball Championship game,

Michigan State honored its three seniors, including Keith Appling and Adreian Payne, following Thursday night’s 86-76 win over Iowa. The senior class has helped lead the Spartans to a Big Ten championship, two Sweet 16 appearances, and a fourth NCAA bid on the way this season. Watch Adreian Payne’s Senior Night speech: VIDEO: Adreian Payne has a special message for Michigan State fans during his senior speech. WATCH – http://t.co/J71rrT9uWV — Michigan St. on BTN (@BTN_Michigan_St) March 7, 2014 Watch Keith Appling’s Senior Night speech: VIDEO: Listen what Keith Appling had to say to @MSU_Basketball fans on Senior Night. –

It is no secret that Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team has battled through plenty of injuries this season. MSU senior point guard Keith Appling is one of those players, who is playing through a wrist injury, which he suffered in early December and re-aggravated against Indiana on Jan.21. Since that game, Appling has struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 14-of-44 from the field (.318) and a measly 3-of-15 from 3-point range (20 percent). Appling admits that the wrist injury still bothers him and that he’s nowhere close to 100 percent. But that doesn’t mean anyone is giving up on

If you ever wondered if a player could pick up his dribble from outside the 3-point arc and get to the hoop for a layup without being called for traveling, he can. Keith Appling did it in Tuesday night’s overtime win at Iowa, and the no-call didn’t sit well with Iowa fans or Fran McCaffery; in fact, McCaffery was hit with a technical foul. ESPN commentator Jay Bilas said this about the play: “It’s hard to believe, but I think that would have been a walk in the NBA.” Let’s just say, Appling covered a lot of ground without a

The weekend is officially here. So that means it’s time for my weekly survey of seven Big Ten hoops writers. This week’s question: Who is the Big Ten’s most underrated player? Check out the responses. No consensus, but some interesting responses. [ MORE: Week in review: Contenders begin to pull away ] Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal: Aaron White, if he’s underrated anymore. You don’t hear his name with other stars, but he makes it go at Iowa. Nathan Baird, Lafayette Journal Courier: Austin Hollins isn’t even the highest-regarded Hollins on his own team, but he helps Minnesota in so

With one-third of the conference schedule in the books, it’s time to take an early look at some of the leading candidates for the Big Ten’s top end-of-the-year awards. See my top 3 players for Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year in this post. Editor’s note: Player stats and team records are through January 21 action. PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1. Keith Appling, Michigan State. Teammate Gary Harris leads the Big Ten in scoring, but Appling’s development at the point- he’s averaging four assists and owns a 1.75

The Big Ten basketball season is approaching the midway point and the conference picture is beginning to take form. Michigan (5-0) and Michigan State (7-0) are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, while Iowa is close behind at 4-1 and climbing up the national rankings. So, we ask, who is the best team in the Big Ten at this point? I debated that question with BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart. [ MORE: Dienhart: Is Stauskas the Big Ten’s best shooter? ] Dienhart: It looks like a three-team race, with Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa a cut above

Toughness. It’s needed in any sport to be successful. And there are many definitions of toughness, which is displayed in various ways. Show me a successful team—and I’ll show you a tough team. Knowing that, I asked some writers who cover Big Ten hoops teams who they felt is the “toughest” player in the conference. [ MORE: Ups and Downs: Reviewing and Previewing Hoops ] Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press: Aaron Craft. Whether by design or accident, he takes more bumps than a pinball — at both ends. Seth Gruen, Chicago Sun-Times: Keith Appling. Smallest guy on the floor and